Photo Credit: Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland But surrounding what used to be a venue dedicated almost exclusively to gaming is a dynamic facility now delivering what Live! promotions director Dara Cohen calls the “entire entertainment experience.” The renovations and additions include the casino’s new, multi-screen sports book bar-and-restaurant, and a versatile entertainment venue that will host everything from comedians to conferences, live music to Super Bowl bashes. The gaming pits, banks of slot machines, and the 30-table poker room - plus anchoring restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace, and Luk Fu noodles and dim sum-still form the casino’s core.

The core of the original Live! complex remains. I know my wife and I were surprised to see how much Live! changed when we stopped in to eat, watch some live sports, and play a little blackjack earlier this summer. Patrons who may not have visited the casino in a while will do a double-take when they see the casino’s many new features, which appeal specifically to those who enjoy a more complete experience–and even those who prefer not to game at all. But Live! has expanded into something beyond a mere gaming destination. Card, dice and slots players can still enjoy their favorite games. I’ve visited Live! dozens of times since it opened.

But in the past two years, Live! has transformed into something bigger and more enticing: an entertainment destination. Nine years ago, the casino adjacent to Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover opened its doors for Marylanders to try their luck at slot machines or table games. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland has undergone a stunning makeover.

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